Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1887-06-09
The Old Sleigh.

turned thanks at last -. ag up
plump, white egg that would do credit
to any queen of the poultry yard:
"Well, alters said that hen was
thankful for past mercies, though your
father would laugh every time ! said so.
Liddy Steven has jest been here; she
wanted to see you, but you was gone
so long thought you must be down to
MIS- 1anell's." .
Yes, met her as she came through
the yard
.She didn't tell you the news, did
she?"
''She told me Will Marston had re-
turned from California"
at does beat all bout that boy
seems jest like the piece o poetry you
read sometimes about the Teller that
went off and stayed SO many years
and then come back and took his
mother out O. the the poor house-only
it's the father this time. The very
worst of the deacon's six.' it called
him, and that's jest what VIII was
then. | never believed he had any
thing to do with that scrape down to
the village. Liddy says he's terribly
rich, and is going to take care of his
father; the deacon must be glad, for l
guess he's stayed with Caleb most as
long as he can comfortably. They say
he's going to marry Sam Miller's
darter Ruth. You see VIII en- Bob Mil
Ter went out there for his health Will
found him out and done little kind
nesscs for him, and when he was too
sick to write home VIII wrote for him.
Part O the time Sam was sick hisself
so Ruth answered the letters and he
fell in love with her in that way. There
didn't anybody but the deacon and the
Milers know he was coming. Sam
drove down TO the depot and carried
him up to Caleb's. Guess they
was some surprised 10 see him."
There is no knowing how long Mrs.
Allen would have gone on, her tongue
keeping time to the busy click-clack of
her needles, had not Mr.. Aliens step,
sounded on the walk.
'Lizabeth never talked much, and the
mother did not mind her silence to-
night A slight culver about the SEN
Sative mouth alone told how kcenly the
words were felt, and the sigh of relief
which escabed at the welcome sound OF
her fathers voice was lost in the noise
made us he entered, stamping the snow
from his boots.
"Whv, father, does it snow? l ben
so busy talking | haint thought to look
out of the window for some time.
Yes, It's begun to come down right
smart; shouldn't wonder if it was good
Sleighing by tomorrow.
you don't think it's going to be
long Storm"
Mrs. Aliens face had an anxious ex-
preston as she asked the question. for
a long storm meant days of exile for
her.
mo, | shin be surprised if it don't
clear up by tomorrow noon-so's Liz
abeth and | can take ride to the vii
lage; that Il be a treat, won't it dar-
tor?" and the smile that lighted up his
daughters face pleased him better than
any answer could have done.
Guess I'll get the old sleigh ont. Ben
Smart S ben down to the city, and he
says he saw lots jest like it; it's five
years sncc l sent Jim to the village
for the new one, and It's never been
out since. I'm glad it's coming into
fashion again, for | never enjoyed my
self complete in the new one-always
felt little above my station" and
Farmer Aliens laugh rang through the
sitting-room ut the fitness of his re-
mark.
"Well, 'Lizabeth, You get supper on
the table, and I'll tell father the news
while he warns his feet. He's ben
down to the wood lot all the afternoon
and haln't heard nothing of the strange
things that has been happening up
here"
Having arranged things to her salts
faction, the stocking Mrs. Allen had
dropped on the cutcrance of her hus-
band continued to grow Unler her def
fingers, while the news lost none of its
interest with repetition.
That night, after 'Lizabcth had taken
her candle and said good n ght, Mr..
Allen sat for some time looking at the
lire, then suddenly broke out:
"Mother, don't YOU think 'Lizabcth
looks kind o peaked lately? Then she
don't seem to eat as much as usual"
There, father, you're always fret
ting bout that girl. l don't know
what you'd done if you'd had six like
your brother Jonathan.
u didn't know but the news about
VIII might affect her some. You know
they used to think SO much of each
other"
''Massy, father! that was years and
years ago, when they were children
'Lizabeth's too sensible a girl to let a
fclcr like VIII Marston disturb her.
When he stopped writing to her. she
gave him up. She's worked hard to-
day, and good nights rest w Ii bring
her round"
There seemed nothing more to be
said, so he took ght and proceeded
TO make everything safe for the night,
but long after his good wife was asleep,
he lay awake thinking of the pale face
his daughter had lifted for the good
light kiss"
'Lizabeth was not likely to get the
strength her mother thought from ,
nights rest Until the first rays O
morning lighted up the east she LAY
thinking of the old days, and liv
ing them over again. She could no
remember the time when she and VIII
had not seemed to belong to each 9th
or. When they were children he ha,
drawn her to and from school on hi
sled, saved her the largest half of hi